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Lesley Lababidi and Lisa Sabbahy: Cairo The Family Guide

Published On:
07/08/2011

As one of
the biggest cities in the world, Cairo holds within its ancient streets and
narrow allies thousands of years’ worth of history and cultural landmarks. It
is so overwhelming that the question of what to do isn’t derived from the lack
of activities; on the contrary, it’s because there’s so much to do that you are
often left wondering where to start from.

A new revised
edition of Cairo The Family Guide raises the bar for the many other guide
books on Cairo. Accompanying listings of interesting places to see around the
city are inspirational descriptions of these places, noting important elements
such as if there are clean bathrooms and if photography is allowed, etc. so
that the visitor knows exactly what to expect.

The book
starts off with a chapter titled ‘How to Explore Cairo’, giving the reader a
small but condensed dose of tips on life in the capital, from national and
religious holidays to what is considered ‘modest clothing’. Egyptians are friendly people but
it is also important not to break any social rules or traditions; so these little
tips can really help a first-time visitor.

Cairo
The Family Guide
then moves onto each district in Cairo from Haram to Old Cairo and from Heliopolis
to Maadi, listing nearly everything that needs to be seen from the obvious
landmarks such as the Pyramids and museums to the lesser known landmarks like
small galleries and old mansions. Each venue description includes a small list
of regular working hours and Ramadan hours, a detailed address including nearby
metro stations and entrance fees. The description also takes into consideration
families with kids, what they might like to see, and what fun activities they can
participate in.

Cairo can
be a pretty exhausting city, and a little planning never hurts. Cairo The
Family Guide is there for assistance in every part of the trip, including
maps and directions along with a website directory for more insider tips. It is
a book that would save its readers a lot of time and guide them directly to
where the must-see Cairo gems are.

Habibi by Craig Thompson is a graphic novel that follows main characters, Dodola and Zam – two escaped child slaves – through a whirlwind of events that are all frightening, enduring and ultimately life-shaping. The 672-page novel may look overwhelming from the outside, but in fact, the read is quick and can easily be finished in a few hours.

The premise of the book is based on a nine-squared grid holding nine different letters, which in some way represent all of life – or at least all that matters in life. Every chapter refers to one of those letters, linking different stories that relate to it. For example, beginning with the letter ‘B’ in Arabic – which stands for ‘Bismillah’ – the story of Zam and his newfound caretaker, Dodola, begins and the story is constantly referring back to this word.

The structure of the book is difficult to map out. While the story is chronological in the bigger sense, events tend to jump back and forth, where each child slave’s full story is only revealed the further you read. We do not know exactly how either of them came to be until to the end.

Other distractions from the story line are religious references. Using Biblical references, verses from the Quran and the history of Moses and Adam, Thompson uses mythical tales to reflect on the characters at hand and the trials they face. He even has a character and element that bears an uncanny representation of Noah and his arc.

Apart from his use of history and religious fables, Thompson also tells a very aggressive, and often times, dark story. Dodola is married off as a child and upon turning to prostitution is subjected to rape and mistreatment. Zam is a slave who sacrifices his manhood out of a loss of a better life. They are both abused time and time again and having their misfortunes sketched out for the eye to witness adds a shocking element to the novel.

This brings us to what makes the novel so wonderful at the same time; the illustrations. The detailing of the sketches and the exemplary hand-work at play is extremely commendable. Action scenes have your eyes rushing through the pages as frantically as one seen on a TV screen. The beauty in the details is endless; the graphics are looming and grand but also sensual and precise. There is a lot of calligraphy incorporated, which makes for an interesting experience for those who can read Arabic.

Another interesting aspect is his combination of the new and the old. Though the story takes place in today’s world, a lot of the prevalent ideologies are from nomadic times; primitive and beastly.

There is also some humour to be found in Habibi. When Dodola tells the version of the Noah’s Ark story in which he leaves his wife behind, we are given an image of Noah sitting on his bed with a thought bubble filled with his grumblings: ‘Who needs her? ... Bitch... Battle-axe ... Ball and chain’. Thompson not only takes these moments to humanise past prophets, but he also gives them a contemporary voice. There is also a powerful underlying sarcasm throughout.

There is indeed something quite poetic about the story he tells – and the manner in which it is told – regardless of the gruesome, harsh aspects; on the contrary, it is these parts that make the novel that much more meaningful.

Like This? Try

Cairo
The Practical Guide, Top
10 Cairo and the Nile, Islamic Monuments in Cairo.

Author Bio

Lesley
Lababidi has raised three children in Cairo and is the author of Cairo’s
Stories: Exploring the Cities Statues, Squares, Bridges, Gardens, and Sidewalk
Cafés. Lisa Sabbahy is assistant professor of Egyptology at the American
University in Cairo.

Writer – Reading geek with an ear for music. Appreciates good conversations and early morning strolls in the sleepy streets of Cairo.